The Effect of Male Physicians' Outfits on the General Population's Perception in Saudi Arabia

Overview Successful medical care depends on the trust developed between a physician and his patient. Professionally dressed doctors are likely to achieve a higher level of trust from their patients than those with a non-professional appearance.For many years, the physician's famous white coat has been the standard professional wear around the world. Few studies in Saudi Arabia have been conducted to analyze what kind of physician outfits patients prefer and whether the choice of attire affects the patient's level of trust. These studies were either done in a single health institute, or in few primary healthcare clinics in one city. This study aims to analyze whether the type of clothing worn by a physician improves the level of trust between a patient and a doctor. Participants were asked about different styles of clothing, including Western business attire, traditional Saudi outfits, and surgical scrubs, and whether wearing the white coat was preferred. Moreover, we sought to establish if differences in age, gender, nationality, or educational background affected the responses. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in August and September 2018. Participants living in Saudi Arabia anonymously filled out an electronic questionnaire, distributed by social media, which measured the effect of male physicians' outfits on the general population's perception in Saudi Arabia. Participants were shown photographs of possible dress styles for physicians. Data were collected on the participants' demographics, their most and least preferred doctor's outfits, and the effect of the physician's attire on their level of trust. Results A total of 8231 participants were included in the survey: 53% males, 87.9% with university-level education or higher, and 93.5% of Saudi nationality; 76.1% of the participants responded "yes" saying that the outfit would have an effect on how a patient might receive medical advice and follow the doctor's recommendations. The most preferred outfits chosen by the participants were surgical scrubs with a white coat (39.3%), followed by a Western shirt and tie with a white coat (30.3%). The least preferred outfit was the full (traditional) Saudi outfit with a white coat (25.4%), followed by a Western business suit without a white coat (23.2%). The choices of most and least preferred attire were found to be impacted by different demographic factors, such as age, gender, and nationality, but not the educational background. Conclusion Physicians practicing in Saudi Arabia should note that their attire will earn the patient's trust and encourage compliance with advice or treatment. The most preferred outfits were surgical scrubs with a white coat and a Western shirt and tie worn with a white coat, whereas the least preferred ones were the traditional Saudi thobe, with and without shemagh or ghutra, and the Western business suit without a white coat.